Sooraj Barjatya's latest film Vivah starring Shahid Kapoor- Amrita Rao releases this Friday. Meet Sooraj in a free-wheeling chat with TWF correspondent Vickey Lalwani.

Q: What is 'Vivah' about?
It is a love story spanning six months which starts after the engagement of a boy who belongs to a business family in Delhi and a girl who is from Mathura. They get to know more about each other. However, there is a major twist in the story which happens just one day before their marriage.

Q: Why did you choose Shahid Kapoor for the male lead?
When I was writing the script, I thought I would take a new boy but after I wrote the climax, I thought of Shahid as we have not seen him play a sensitive character so far.

Q: And why Amrita for the female lead?
Amrita and Shahid look very good together. If you remember, their last film 'Ishq Vishk' did very well. Plus they fitted the roles perfectly.

Q: It is very rare that you give an interview...
I am a very reserved person. I don't know why but I have always kept myself away from the media. I think I felt very shy in interacting with reporters and journalists. But the loss has been mine. I have realised the importance of the media and how much it helps in the promotion of a film.

However, over the last few years, I have actually started enjoying interacting with the media and I have understood that it is important to convey what you are showing in the film.

Q: Your last film 'Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon' bombed at the box-office?
'Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon' was an attempt to make a film for a younger generation. Through it I realised that that's not what the typical Rajshri audience wants.

Q: You are also producing a TV serial 'Woh Rehne Wali Mehlon Ki'?
Yes. We had been thinking of entering television for some time now, but we wanted my sister Kavita to be ready to handle everything herself; now that has happened. We will make more serials in future.

Q: Why do you always maintain family values in your films?
Good family values are the core of everything we do. My grandfather created the image of our company from the image of goddess Saraswati and we always want to keep to those values. Even in the serial, we are propogating family values. Of late, there has been a lot of negativity in television. I especially want kids to see that there are good people around too. I don't want them to think that the world is just full of crooks and negative people.

Q: Your film don't target the overseas market?
I don't think in terms of a foreign audience. We have a big enough audience at home and we make films for them. What is important is to make a film that is true to your sensibilities (pauses).

Q: Go on...
I am also looking to promote younger directors who will make films under the Rajshri banner. The life span of films has become shorter, so one needs many more products. We are looking to promote young filmmakers who will make these films. Our only criterion is that they should keep the essential Rajshri values.

Q: Do you connect with today's films?
My favourite films are 'Veer-Zaara' and 'Black' But I could not connect with 'Bunty Aur Babli' and 'Page 3'. To each his own (smiles).